31 Days of Faves: The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance
The Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance" is Brian Wilson when the stories the songs told were about the joys and tribulations of growing up.
31 Days of Faves: Chris Rea - Fool If You Think It's Over
The story of the unlikely success of Chris Rea's "Fool If You Think It's Over" is the stuff of a novel about trial and redemption.
31 Days of Faves: Seals & Crofts - Summer Breeze
The very title of Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze" branded it, over time, as a Summer Song, even though it's prime happened in September.
The Last Day of Class
When I was a senior in high school, we had a teacher who gave us a lesson in finding happiness that still resonates today.
31 Days of Faves: The Temptations - I Can't Get Next to You
Pound for pound, nothing in the Motown cannon will ever top 1969's Temptations unforgettable "I Can't Get Next to You".
31 Days of Faves: Yes - Roundabout
When Atlantic records needed a single from the "Fragile" LP, they didn't tell the band they were cutting the 8:29 album version to 3:27. Yes first heard it on the radio when traveling between gigs and they weren't happy about it... until it became a smash hit.
31 Days of Faves: Eric Clapton - Let It Grow
"I Shot the Sheriff" was the hit single from Eric Clapton's "461 Ocean Blvd" LP. But, for me, "Let It Grow" is the cut that never grows old.
31 Days of Faves: Small Faces - Itchycoo Park
There is beauty in simplicity. Peel back all the conflicting stories about what the lyrics in "Itchycoo Park" mean, that's the message.
31 Days of Faves: Fifth Dimension - California Soul
Some don't consider "California Soul" to be a major 5th Dimension hit. But it still hooks me, every time I hear it.
31 Days of Faves: Del Amitri - Roll To Me
At barely two minutes, Del Amitri's 1995 smash, "Roll To Me" is a timeless tune that channels the best of the 1960s.
31 Days of Faves: Richard Harris - MacArthur Park
Producer Bones Howe is the real catalyst behind Jimmy Webb's iconic, "MacArthur Park". He came up with the idea. Webb created the charts. The Association rejected it. Richard Harris, with WABC programmer, Rick Sklar's help, made it a hit.
Happy Mother's Day
“Motherhood is.. the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver, Pigs In Heaven
31 Days of Faves: The Troggs - Love Is All Around
The inimitable Creem and Rolling Stone rock journalist, Lester Bangs dubbed the Troggs, the "godfathers of punk". So there's a certain irony that their most enduring hit was a love song.
31 Days of Faves: Nathan East (Featuring Michael McDonald) - Moondance
When Nathan East decided to release a collection under his own name, Van Morrison's "Moondance" was one of 14 eclectic tunes to make the cut. With Michael MacDonald on vocals it rocks like few cover tunes ever do.
31 Days of Faves: Kiki Dee Band - I've Got the Music In Me
When Kiki Dee joined Elton John's Rocket Records, a career that had been simmering since the mid 1960s took off. And 1974's "I've Got the Music In Me" was the fuse that lit the fire.
31 Days of Faves: REO Speedwagon - Roll With the Changes
REO's 7th studio album produced their first Top 40 hit, "Time for Me to Fly". It was worthy of the accolades. But for me, it was Side One, Cut One that would resonate.
31 Days of Faves: Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Certain songs define a generation. And for some, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" ranks with Vicki Sue Robinson, Cheryl Lynn and Gloria Gaynor.
31 Days of Faves: The Ventures / Brian Setzer - Hawaii Five-0
"Don't screw up the theme song." That was the one thing people said when word leaked of a re-boot of the Hawaii Five-0 Television series.
31 Days of Faves: Rod Stewart - Day After Day
Backstory on the Badfinger Tune that became a popular cover for Rod Stewart, his fifth Top 5 and second #1 debut in three years.
Pandemic Lessons
The last year has taught us to treasure every single hug, to make a memory of every smile and to place experience ahead of possessions.